Wednesday, October 24, the MHS Art Department will present a Raku workshop for 3D art students in the C-Wing courtyard near the Cube between 8:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Raku firing is an ancient Japanese process developed for pottery used in tea ceremonies. Ceramic pieces are glazed with special glazes that will either crackle, luster or turn metallic during the reduction phase.  These pieces are put into a small kiln fueled by a propane burner and within 30 minutes the temperature reaches 1900o.   The hot pottery is then taken out of the kiln and placed in a can filled with combustible material such as straw, leaves, or wood shavings.  This is called the reduction process because the oxygen in the container has been reduced by the burning material.

Raku pottery looks dramatically different from electrically fired ceramics. Glazes can turn copper, gold, purple, or blue. Other glazes will crackle and have dark lines throughout. This is a wonderful, hands-on workshop that teaches students a different ceramic firing process and allows them to see immediate changes to surface and color right before their eyes.

You may view video examples of the Raku Firing Process here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYDqKLcaT2E 

For more information, contact Jonathan Pruc, Extension 1066